San Elijo Lagoon and Nature Center
About This Trail
The San Elijo Lagoon is a great hike for new walkers because it is flat, wide, and only half a mile around. Don’t let the short distance deter you though, the views of the lagoon are absolutely gorgeous! There are lots of different birds and critters so keep your eye out. After your walk you can visit the cute nature center.
Walk to the end of the parking lot and then past the nature center. From there, take the trail straight and heading toward the lagoon. From there the path will curve around the edge and stay next to the water. Halfway around you will see a trail to your left, you can cut the hike short and take that straight back to the parking lot. This trail is one very large bridge which is fun for little walkers. Otherwise, keep going straight and the trail will go a little further and then loop back to the entrance of the parking lot.
Restrooms: There is a restroom at the Nature Center.
Trail Features
| Seasons | Fall, Spring, Summer, and Winter |
|---|---|
| Surface type | Mixed |
| Carrier needed | No |
| Stroller friendly | Yes |
| ADA accessible | Yes |
| Water fountains | No |
| Bathrooms | No |
| Cell reception | Excellent |
| Pet friendly | Yes |
| Nearby convenience store | No |
| Camping Nearby | No |
| Emergency support within 5 miles |
Yes |
Trail highlights
Short and easy hike with gorgeous views of the lagoon.
Fee & Parking Details
Park in the parking lot for the nature center.
Trail Contributor
Hike it Baby member since spring 2016. Past HiB Orange County CA Branch Ambassador. Current HiB San Diego CA Branch Ambassador. Current National Team volunteer for Community Values, HiB30 Challenge Prizes, Mentor, and Ambassador Continued Education teams.
Weather
Trail Map
Upcoming Community Hikes Nearby
About The Guide
Hike it Baby Family Trail Guide is an online resource to help families with children source trails that little legs can hike and parents can feel comfortable with. Hike details are sourced and have been hiked by families who participate in our community. Our contributors do their best to give you all the details they can, but if something is missed, you can reach out to the contributor and offer suggestions for them to add to make it a better trail description for all. This guide was built with a generous 3-year partnership with L.L Bean. Like Hike it Baby, L.L Bean believes that helping get families into nature from birth on is key to healthier, happier communities.
Trail Disclaimer
Hike it Baby makes every effort to keep trail content up to date, but trail conditions are subject to change. Hike it Baby is not responsible for any injuries that occur while hiking the trails covered in this guide. Hike it Baby is a platform that helps connect families to federal, state and local parks nationwide.